Lake County Council Regular Meeting - December 9, 2025

The Lake County Council met on December 9, 2025, at 10:00 AM in Crown Point, Indiana, to consider a wide range of financial transfers, grant approvals, ordinances, resolutions, and appointments. The meeting lasted approximately 45 minutes of public session followed by an executive session. Key actions included approval of $135,000 for the Coroner’s Office, passage of a resolution recognizing December as National Human Rights Month, and debate over the number of contracted attorneys. A public comment from Gary Public Transportation Corporation highlighted service expansion and requested a recurring annual investment of $4 million.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes – Approved minutes from the November 18, 2025 regular meeting (motion passed 7-0).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Denise Diller (GPTC) – Representing Gary Public Transportation Corporation, Diller provided an extensive update on achievements since receiving county funding. She reported that GPTC expanded its service area from 54th Avenue to 102nd Avenue, added 20 buses (up from 10 in 2023), purchased 11 paratransit vehicles, and saved $900,000 on personnel through consolidation. New LED lighting at the 35th Street terminal saved $94,000 in utilities. GPTC partnered with NIPSCO for lighting upgrades, with Indiana University and Calumet College for student transit, and with a local company for motorized bike sharing. Diller stated that 70 riders per bus were traveling to Amazon facilities. She requested the council consider a recurring investment of $4 million per year for four years to support transit as an economic development engine. She noted the RDA encouraged fleet expansion but did not commit operational funding.

Discussion Items

• Coroner’s Office Transfer ($135,000) – Coroner David Niemeyer personally appeared to request a transfer from various line items to purchase eight Motorola radios (with charging, programming, and mapping) for deputy safety, plus a replacement van for the 2007 vehicle. Council discussed group purchasing options; the coroner had already obtained a discounted bulk price. Motion passed 7-0.
• Contract Attorney Review – During consideration of four consulting contracts, Council members raised concerns about the number of attorneys retained by the council (four total) and potential duplication of tasks. Councilman Randy Brewer questioned each attorney about their roles. Tom O’Donnell and Ray Szarmach both cited institutional knowledge and quick turnaround on ordinances and resolutions. Shana Levinson handles litigation and appeals. Linda Garcia-Marmolejo maintains ordinance codification and legal research. Councilman Charlie Brown expressed worry about conducting such discussions in public, but council attorney affirmed it was proper. After debate, contracts were approved as follows: O’Donnell (5-2), Szarmach (5-2), Levinson (4-3), Garcia-Marmolejo (5-2). Opponents cited fiscal responsibility and overlapping duties.
• Economic Revitalization Area Declaration – Declaratory Resolution for Venture One LLC passed 7-0 without further discussion.
• Project Labor Agreement Ordinance – Ordinance requiring Project Labor Agreements for projects receiving economic incentives was deferred to the January 13, 2026 meeting.
• Mileage Rate Ordinance – Deferred to January 13, 2026, pending federal rate setting.

Key Outcomes

• Resolutions Passed (all 7-0):
  • Recognizing December as National Human Rights Month.
  • Approving $287,500 transfer from CEDIT Fund (4012) to 2025 SRF Bond Debt Service Fund (4359).
  • Authorizing transfers to Group Employee Benefits Self Insurance Accrual Fund, Non-Reverting Self Insurance Liability Fund, and Jail Inmate Medical Fund.
  • Requesting statewide 911 and enhanced prepaid wireless telecommunications service charge be placed on the Indiana General Assembly’s 2026 legislative agenda.
• Ordinances Passed (all 7-0 on final reading):
  • Part-Time Employee Pay Rate Ordinance for 2026.
  • Holiday Schedule Ordinance for calendar year 2026.
• Grant Approvals:
  • Juvenile Court: Indiana Department of Corrections Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative (JDAI) grant renewal.
  • Juvenile Detention Center: Indiana Office of Court Services Improvement Grant Program – Lake County Community Corrections Juvenile Grant renewal.
  • Sheriff: U.S. Department of Homeland Security/Indiana DNR 2026 Marine Patrol Assistance Grant renewal.
• Financial Transfers:
  • Coroner’s Office: approved $135,000 transfer.
  • County Assessor: approved $50,000 transfer and $14,400 appropriation.
  • Calumet, Center, Ross, St. John Township Assessors: each approved a -$3,600 appropriation reduction.
  • Criminal Courts: approved $45,879 transfer.
  • Superior Court IV: approved $1,800 transfer.
  • Motor Vehicle (B): approved $180,000 transfer from various line items to overtime for snow removal.
  • Public Works: approved $24,000 transfer to overtime.
  • Sheriff: resolution to pay outstanding 2023 and 2024 invoices from 2025 budget.
  • Criminal Division Public Defender: approved $7,000 transfer to office supplies.
• Health Department: Ordinance establishing the Lake County Health Department’s Autism Trauma and Injury Prevention Grant Fund as a non-reverting fund, passed on second reading (7-0).
• Appointments:
  • Board of Zoning Appeals: Charles Gamblin appointed (replacing Bob Zubrick who resigned for medical reasons).
  • County Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team: Judge Julie Cantrell and Eric Zegaczewski reappointed.
  • Contractors Licensing Board: Sal Espino (Plumbing) and Dave Soderquist (Electrical) reappointed.
  • County Property Tax Assessment Board of Appeals: Carly A. Brandenburg and Kenneth Barksdale reappointed.
  • Lake County Redevelopment Commission: Councilwoman Christine Cid and John Brezik reappointed.
  • Northwest Indiana Community Action Corporation (CoAction): Councilman Pete Lindemulder appointed, with Councilman Tim Brown as proxy.
  • Contractors Licensing Board (Council appointment): Councilman Charlie Brown appointed.
  • Garner Scholarship Committee: Councilman Pete Lindemulder and Councilwoman Christine Cid appointed.